Socket for pin base lamps and tubes



Nov. 2, 1943. N. CHIRELSTEIN SOCKET FOR FIN BASE LAMPS AND TUBES Filed July 9. 1942 II 7// V/ INVENTOR H I R ELSTE I N ATT . Tfi..

NATHAN c Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

SOCKET FOR PIN BASE LAMPS AND TUBES Nathan Chirelstein, Maplewood, N. J.

Application July 9, 1942, Serial No. 450346 4 Claims. (Ci. 173-328) The invention here disclosed relates to sockets or holders for fiuorescent lamps and the like.

The base portions of these sockets, which must be hollow to contain the contacts for the pin terminals of the lamp, have usually been made in two or more parts, in many instances, a rather complicated molded base part open along one entire side and a cover plate screwed or otherwise fastened over the open side.

such pror constructions have had certain objections, particularly in that the cover` plates might work loose or be broken ofi" or be left oli, thus exposing the internal contacts.

Special objects of the present invention are to overcome the above and other objections existing in respect to pin base sockets now in use and to provide a socket Construction of simple, sturdy design, all in one easily molded piece and adapted to have contacts of simple structure, easily mounted in the base and properly housed and protected at all times.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by noveleatures of Construction, combinations and relations of parts, all as hereinafter set forth and broadly covered in the'claims. The drawing accompanying and forming part of the following specification iliustratesone practical commercial embodiment of the invention, but it is realized that structure may be modified and changed all within the true scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a broken and part sectional side elevation showing the invention as embodied in a combined tube holder and starting switch socket.

Fig. 2 is an inside face view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on substantialiy the plane of line 3-3 oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View, the bottom cover plate removed to illustrate internal features;

In the particular form of one-piece base construction here illustrated, there is an upright hollow column portion 1, for carrying the lamp or tube and a laterally projecting socket portion For further strength, the outer wall 9, may be reinforced by an internal longitudinally extending rib [6. e e

Further reinorceme'nt is provided by opposed transversely extending ribs ll, l8, on the outer and inner walls 9, IO, located with their upper edges substantially in line with the inner ends of the pin receiving notches !9, 20, extended inward from the outer end of the inner wall o.

, The latter wall is shown in Fig. 1, as further reinforced by a rib 2I, extending longitudinally inwardly from the transverse rib l8.

The end walls ll, !2, are shown as widened out-or thickened at 22, 23, to provide solid rigid mounts for the contact springs, these solid portions having inset shoulders 24, 25, to provide seatsfor the base portions of the contacts.

Except for the fact of itsbeing an integral extension of the lamp socket base, the starter switch base portion 8, is of substantially conventional design having a socket 26, for the starter switch, with arcuate keyhole slots 21, 28, for theswitch terminals. Being an integral portion of the tube socket however, this laterally projecting switch socket materially braces and strengthens the tube socket,` further enabling the walls of the combination base to bemade lighter and thinner than possible heretofore;

The pin holding contacts, as shown in Fig. 3, may be alike, having straight portions 29, lying against the inner faces of the end walls, inwardly angled portions 30, short straight portions 3l, to form stops engageable with the ends of the transverse ribs ll, [8, and outwardly rounded hook portions 32, terminating in inclined wedges or cams 33. The outwardly angled bases 34, of these contacts are shown as secured over the solid seats 24, 25, by the studs 35. The straight inner portions 29, of the contacts lie against the thickened solid inner portions of the end walls, so that these solid walls receive all the side pressure exerted by the spring contacts. The opposed transversely extending ribs or ridges l'i, !8, provide insulating spacers between the opposed contacts.

The web or tie !3, connecting the outer ends of the side walls operates as a Separator for the terminal pins of a lamp being inserted in or removed from the socket. The inwardly projected flanges M, l5, also operate as guides for the terminal pins and these flanges may extend inward over the inclined terminals 33, of the contact springs to prevent any possibility of an inserted pin being` caught behind the contacts.

Where the starter switch socket is combined with the tube socket, as in the illustration, one of the Starter switch Contacts, designated 36, in Fig 5, may be connected with one of the lamp Contacts, by being held over the base of the same, by fastening 35. The other lamp contact is shown as having a terminal plate 31, connected thereto. Similarly, the other contact 38, for the i switch socket is shown as carrying a terminal plate 39, the two terminals mentioned providing the means for connectng both the lamp socket and the switch socket in proper circuit relation.

The combination base being fully open at the back enables the four Contacts and terminals for the lamp socket and switch socket to be quickly placed and Secured and this structure furthermore enables a single cover plate 40, to be used for both these portions of the device, said. plate being shown as removably Secured in place by` screws 4l.

The straight through passages of the hollow column* enable' inexpensve manufacture of the base with simple'direct acting two-piece moldingf The walls, because of the way they are web, the inner side" wall having pin r'eceiving notches' at opposite'sides' of'said web and said side walls having transverse contact positioning ribs' on the` inner faces of the'same' in` spaced opposed relation' and'substantially in line with .the inner' ends ofsaid pin receiving notches, con

tacts re'sting against the inner faces of said end" walls andhaving inwardly `extended portions bearingagainst said contact-positioning ribs and end hook' portions` projecting 'into exposed position in said'notches' and inwardly extenclingfianges* on the outer ends of said end walls for protecting the hooked endsof said` Contacts.

2. A socket for pin base lamps, comprising' an' integral one-pie'c'e hollow column of molded materialhavingsoaced,` fiat, thin, straight, substantially parallel" inner' and outer' side walls connect'ed by thin; fiat,straight substantially paralhaving straight portions resting against the inner faces of the end walls, inwardly inclined portions,

short stop portions on said inwardly inclined por-' tions bearing against opposte end edges of said transversely extending ribs and hook portions projecting from said stop portions into exposed position in said notches.

3. A socket for -pin base lamps, comprising an integral one-piece hollow column of molded material having spaced, fiat, thin, straight, substantially parallel inner and outer side walls connected by thin, fiat, straight, substantially parallel end walls and by an intermediate integral web, the inner side wall having pin receiving notches at opposite sides of said web and said side walls having transverse contact positioning ribson the inner faces of the same in spaced opposed relation, substantially in line with the inner ends of said pin receiving notches and contacts having straight `portions resting against the' inner faces of the end walls, inwardly inclined portions, short stop portions on said inwardly inclined' portions hearing against cpposite end edges of said transversely extending ,ribs and hook portionsprojectingfrom said stop portions into exposedvposition in said'notches and cam inclines on the ends of said `book portions, said end wallshaving inwardly extending fianges projecting over the outer ends of said inclined cams.

4. A socket for pin baselamps, comprising an integral one-piece hollow ,column of molded material having spaced, flat, thin, straight, substantially parallel` inner and outer side walls con:

extended outwardly into thickened base .portions and contacts having angled bases Secured over said. thickened base portions of the end walls. NATHAN CHIRELSTEIN. 

